Meet Jose Rizal Mills | Documentary Photographer & Gaffer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jose Rizal Mills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jose Rizal, why did you pursue a creative career?
From a young age, curiosity has been a defining trait of mine. My namesake, José Rizal, the Pambansang Bayani (National Hero) of the Philippines, symbolized a deep connection to my heritage and an inherent sense of pride. This multifaceted background naturally led me to explore the world beyond my immediate surroundings, sparking a lifelong passion for creativity and storytelling.

One of my earliest memories of this curiosity was spending hours on Google Earth, virtually wandering through the streets of cities far and wide. This fascination with the world outside my window prompted my parents to enroll me in various creative and arts-related after-school programs. However, it was at fourteen, when my father introduced me to a filmmaking program run by the Digital Gym Cinema, that I truly found my calling. Learning to make movies and document the world around me through a lens became a profound and transformative experience. It was this initial exposure to filmmaking that laid the foundation for my creative journey. During my time at Montgomery Senior High School, I began to document my life and the community around me through videos. My classmates appreciated my work, which gained popularity and further encouraged me to delve deeper into photography and videography. I felt a strong urge to capture the essence of South Bay, a place often overlooked in favor of the bustling heart of Central San Diego. Through my lens, I aimed to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of my community, hoping to inspire others to see and appreciate it as I did.

After graduating high school in June 2018, I faced a period of uncertainty. Unsure of my future direction, I paused my photography pursuits and took time to reflect. The memory of my initial foray into filmmaking reignited my passion, leading me to enroll in the Film, Television, and Media program at Southwestern College. The onset of the COVID-19 lockdown presented an unexpected opportunity to immerse myself in photography videos, rekindling my love for the medium, especially photographic film. This shift to film photography transformed my approach to both photography and filmmaking, emphasizing patience and meticulousness.

Graduating in June 2021 marked the beginning of a new chapter. I took a year off to work in the film industry and continue documenting San Diego through my lens. This period was both challenging and enlightening, as I continued struggled with social phobia and agoraphobia, conditions that sometimes made leaving the house an overwhelming task. I think despite these obstacles, the support of my therapist, friends, and my own determination helped me persevere. Relearning photography, particularly with film, was a complex yet rewarding journey. The medium format photography I initially pursued, with its limited exposures, taught me to value each shot and approach my work with precision and care. Transitioning back to 35mm film allowed me to balance cost and creative output, refining my technique and storytelling. My work as a freelance photographer and a gaffer in the film industry is a culmination of these experiences. Specializing in on-set photography for film and television productions and documentary photography, I strive to capture the essence of the places and people I encounter. My background in photography has significantly enhanced my understanding of lighting, which is crucial in my role as a gaffer. Whether working on small independent films or commercial sets for major brands, my ability to manipulate light has been an invaluable asset.

Reflecting on my journey, I realize that maybe my pursuit of a creative career was inevitable. My childhood shyness and limited social interactions fueled an internal world of creativity. Movies I watched with my father, the Legos I meticulously built, and the architectural designs I admired all played a role in shaping my artistic vision. The Digital Gym Teen Film Program was the catalyst that brought my creative aspirations to life, and my continued education and experiences have honed my skills and broadened my horizons. Today, as I explore California and document its diverse cultures and landscapes, I am driven by a desire to tell compelling stories through analog photography. My journey has been marked by challenges and triumphs, but it has always been guided by a deep-seated passion for creativity and a commitment to capturing the world through my unique lens.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Sure thing, as mention prior I am a Documentary Photographer or that is at least what I would describe my stuff as. I say this because with my work, I tend to visit different places and locations and photograph what is going on. Sometimes, I go to a place multiple times during there year to capture the different vibes or things that have changed. I also want to note that my work isn’t inherently just street style documentary photography, but encompass different genre like Still Life, Landscape and even Portraiture. Some of my most proudest photographs I’ve made are some underrepresented places I have visited, such as my Mount Helix Images or my work of East County.

I would say that, just like anything art work you make you sort of start terrible and over time through practice and learning, it gets better. I remember starting in photography way back in 2014 not even knowing how aperture or shutter speed even work, let alone even shoot photographic film. The way, I got better was learning composition and also learning from other forms of art like cinematography. To those starting out in photography, I would recommend to people starting out to not buy an expensive camera and shoot on your phone or a cheap DSLR. You should learn the basics, learn composition and also look at other types of work or art before diving further down.

Also want to mention that outside of photography, I work in the Cinema/Television Space as a Gaffer and Assistant Camera. In the Gaffer Space, I doing a lot of lighting setup and planning for a production shoot. As for working as an Assistant Camera, I might be pulling focus for a shot or setting up camera or troubleshooting. I primarily work in small independent feature or shorts to commercial sets for popular brands like Vans. I find that a lot of why I got into this line of work comes from both my love for photography and lighting, but also a result of situ

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For me, I think one of my favorite spots to visit is definitely Mount Helix Park. It’s a small park located in the Mount Helix area next to El Cajon. I love visiting it because it has these extremely beautiful views that I can appreciate a lot. It’s also a place that is quite peaceful, with not that many people going it. I go there also to photograph a ton or when I need to get something off my mind. Another location I would definitely recommend visiting is Windansea Beach, which is a beach in La Jolla that isn’t as noisy as some of the others. It can look really beautiful in the morning or during sunset when the tide starts to chill. Lastly, I would also give Mount Soledad Park a visit as well! It also in the same area as La Jolla, although it sort of a pain to get to! Once getting there though, it sort of like the opposite of Mount Helix Park where you also see tons of different places and views, but from the beach.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would say, my father, which might sound extremely cliche but he consistently makes sure that I can pursue my goals in the spaces that I am working in. He played a big part in why I got into photography, as he was one who we would always go around and explore different locations because of his work. As for filmmaking, he also got me into it early onward and that moment when he signed me up at the Digital Gym Cinema Class still plays a big role in my career now.

I also want to shout out two businesses that always come in clutch, those being I’m Still Developing and Safelight Labs. I’m Still Developing is a photo organization and a photo lab that has always came in clutch developing my 35mm film and also run photo community events across Southern California. Then as for Safelight Labs, they have excellent film processing and always are extreme helpful when it comes down to trouble shooting issues with my gear. They always repost my images and work and I’m always thankful for that!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dontshootphotos/

Image Credits
Mark Remulla (Personal Photo)
Jose Rizal Mills (Additional Photos)